A Christmas crackdown is aiming to keep knives and guns out of pubs and clubs in a special operation launched by the police this week.

A Christmas crackdown is aiming to keep knives and guns out of pubs and clubs in a special operation launched by the police this week.

Undercover officers posing as revellers, metal detectors set up at entrances and spot checks on door staff will be among the methods used to curb the number of drinkers arming themselves.

The operation, codenamed Argon, was launched on Monday and will run until January 3.

Known as 'silly season' by landlords because of excess alcohol during Christmas and New year, and fights, often involving groups armed with weapons.

Police hailed last year's operation as a success after no shootings were reported in nightclubs in the season throughout the capital.

But one Ealing club had to be shut down after a series of festive brawls last year. The Priory was closed from

December 24 to 26 and could have lost its licence after the violence, some of which saw large mobs having to be held back by tasers and pepper spray.

Jake Furey, joint owner of Libertaire night club in Acton High Street, said: "I can agree with a visible police presence at this time of year, it's called silly season for a reason as people get extremely drunk.

"But we use one of the best firms in London for our security and they already use wands - hand held metal detectors.

"No matter where you go around the world you're always going to get someone who's going to be silly and carry something on them, or a bottle or glass, but it's few and far between and our security can handle it.

"The most important thing is that the clientele and staff are in a safe and enjoyable environment.

"It only takes a moment of madness with a weapon to ruin someone's life, so anything that's done to prevent it is a good thing.

"The police do a difficult job but a good job."

Firearms officers will be targeting cars known to be linked to guns and attempt to track down where weapons may be stashed during the operation.

Detective chief superintendent Helen Ball, in charge of the operation, said: "At nightclubs' busiest time of the year we'll be making London as hard as possible for weapon carrying criminals to get around and clubs as hard as possible for them to get into."